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Oil producers want to see policies that will double industry’s growth in Alberta election

By Bob Weber The Canadian Press

Posted January 22, 2019 2:41 pm

Updated January 22, 2019 6:50 pm

2:19Poll: Canadians wants climate change action, but not at any cost

Canada is a rarity among big oil producers, making commitments to meet global carbon reduction targets. But as Eric Sorensen explains, this country remains divided over what to do even as a consensus grows that climate change is real and must be dealt with.

The energy industry’s want list as Alberta politicians gear up for a spring election includes a doubling of the industry’s growth rate and support for six energy pipelines.

“What we put forward today is a vision for the future,” Tim McMillan, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said Tuesday.

The association released an eight-page document containing 16 recommendations for a future government.

“Alberta has an opportunity to become one of the most attractive places in the world for oil and natural gas investment, but only if Albertans vote for energy in the next provincial election,” said a news release.

It wants completion of the Keystone XL, Line 3 and Trans Mountain pipeline expansions. It also wants government support for three entirely new pipelines to Canadian coastlines as well as four liquefied natural gas terminals.

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The group suggests that regulatory timelines should be cut in half and costs reduced by $2 billion. As well, Alberta should “assert” its constitutional authority over energy development, including in-situ oilsands projects.

Also on the wish list are lower corporate taxes, “competitive and efficient” royalties and the lowest municipal taxes in North America.

The association is careful in its release to steer clear of any political party. But Alberta’s Opposition United Conservative Party was quick to hop on.

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“The recommendations and concerns raised in today’s report reinforce what we’ve been saying,” said a statement from energy critic Prasad Panda, who was not made available for an interview.

New Democrat Premier Rachel Notley was more circumspect.

“There’s a lot of things on which I agree with CAPP and then there’s some things I don’t,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean that we can’t find ways to work productively with players within the oil and gas industry to help build our economy for all Albertans.”

Adopting the recommendations in the CAPP document assumes the world’s energy mix will stay the same and that renewable energy, electric cars or climate policy won’t make any difference, said Nikki Way of the clean-energy think-tank Pembina Institute.

“That’s a dangerous situation for Alberta, banking on a continued thirst for oil that will never cease in our lifetime.”